String Thing

[Elnjaybass]

Received Laredo last Wednesday-
Played extensively.
TIme for new strings- I like 'em bright and shiny at least most of the time. Slightly dead can be OK, too, but not all the time, and the Ric strings seem to have a very good resonance and tone when nice and new...

I've decided to keep the OEM Ric strings on, big decision for me-as I have a light attack and style that lends itself to TI-JR-344's-.043-.051-.068-.089, and if you think they're light-howabout RotoSound FunkMasters @ 30-50-70-90?
Pretty light but they well work for me, on several of my basses.
I actually think that the TI's especially would lend themselves well to the Laredo. I may try that at some point...

I'm curious to what other Ric players find works well for them- and their style of music too.

I actually like the sound of the OEM Ric strings for a lot of what I do- R&B/groove bass playing- They have a very balanced and "phat" tone, especially on the low-end- and the mids and highs are sweet too. Combined with the killer pups (and a sweet rig or two or three I own!) Good Bass sounds.

So give it up-
What are y'all using and what do you play??
And one more thing, If I may-

What's the deal with Pyramid Strings?? Rare?? Sound real good? Old-School?? Man, I thought TI's were getting out of hand at $50, but these...

ANd incidentally I had so much aggravation ordering the Ric strings from SamAsh (technical problems) that I ordered from the Ric Boutique.
Hope they ship soon, I'm pretty close to them relatively speaking, in SoCal.

[1965]

I thought Pyramids would be a big waste of money, but ever since I tried them I haven't been able to find anything I like better. Tried TIs and Chromes, but I like the high-tension feel of the Pyramids. Oh, and I only play flatwounds.

[beatlefreak]

Received Laredo last Wednesday-
Played extensively.
TIme for new strings.

You must have really played it extensively if you need new strings after five days.

[Elnjaybass]

Received Laredo last Wednesday-
Played extensively.
TIme for new strings.

You must have really played it extensively if you need new strings after five days.

LOL
Kris, you have NO idea!
For one thing, my lady analyzes me, among other dysfunctions, as obsessive-compulsive. Glad I amuse her.
But getting real- This is my first Ric bass- and to say the least I was floored with how bad-azz it is.
So I HAVE been laying into, and tearing into this instrument, prolly about 5 hours a day maybe.
I have the added onus of working out of my home, as well as being part of the Music Biz, as well as playing in (3) projects, although I've only done (1) session with the Laredo, first gig will be post-NAMM where I gots to work!
So yeah, I actually WOULD need a new set to sound performance level.
When I first started feeling the instrument those many 4 days back, I decided to stay with the OEM's even though I had to adjust my technique because the strings seemed VERY hard-wired for the bass.They felt very right.
Now that I'm well into my way with this bass, they just might stay that way (OEM). But, yep lotta hours playing this fantastic bass- I did not know what I have been missing.

1965- interesting about the Pyramids, makes me want to try a set- Never favored flatwounds and I know a lot of players do, especially being "old-school" and Blues eg. Maybe that would surprise me- Never know- the Bass with it's "heavier-than usual for me gauge" OEM strings sure did.

[1965]

1965- intersting about the Pyramids, makes me want to try a set- Never flaovored flatwounds and I know a lot of player do, especially being "old-school" and Blues eg. Maybe that would surprise me- Never know- the Bass with iot's "heavier-than usual for me gauge" OEM strings sure did.

On any other bass I don't like em, but on a Rick they feel great. If you do try, you'll likely have to tweak the truss rod. It was worth it for me though.

[jaymi]

I use Ernie Ball Slinkies gauged 45-100....I tend to play very aggressively and that means that the string has to respond....I have put these on Rics for probably the last 15 years or so...they have never let me down and I can run a set for about 3-4 mos even with heavy playing schedules..

[Elnjaybass]

I heard mentioned that lighter strings would not require a TR adjust, if not too extreme.
Are the Pyramids that much heavier?

All in all, another reason to maybe stick with the Ric strings- I have a fear of TR adjusts; and like to let my tech do a set up on my Bass(es) once a year if I can.
Some of them don't need it, others like the MM have a very do-it yourself sytem. Others- I have a Tobias, e.g-
I wouldn't deal with it myself.

The Laredo is so sweet, I wouldn't like to approach the neck- May be yet another of my dysfunctions!

[jaymi]

I heard mentioned that lighter strings would not require a TR adjust, if not too extreme.
Are the Pyramids that much heavier?

All in all, another reason to maybe stick with the Ric strings- I have a fear of TR adjusts; and like to let my tech do a set up on my Bass(es) once a year if I can.
Some of them don't need it, others like the MM have a very do-it yourself sytem. Others- I have a Tobias, e.g-
I wouldn't deal with it myself.

The Laredo is so sweet, I wouldn't like to approach the neck- May be yet another of my dysfunctions!

depends on the neck..some move a lot and some don't...the pyramids are a lot heavier in tension than the EB slinkies...if i was going to use flats, i would go with TI jazz flats all nickel....loose tension great sound!!!

[jps]

I had TI JRs on the 4004Cii I used to own, sounded great, especially with the toasters in that bass.

[Elnjaybass]

Don't think I'll go with Flats, only because of my attack and approach.
I know they (flats) get a GREAT sound from a lot of players tho, and using the lighter gauges that I do on many of my basses keeps other bassists at arms-lenght sometimes!
For example, I have a '69 P-Bass that makes other bass players dyin' to try it- until thney find I have it strung with GHS XXL Boomers- also 30-50-70-90!
Spaghetti to some, antipasto to me!

[Elnjaybass]

I had TI JRs on the 4004Cii I used to own, sounded great, especially with the toasters in that bass.

The JR-344's Jeffrey?
I have a set, and am feeling that they woudl be a MATCH with my Laredo-
I just feel it!

[jps]

I had TI JRs on the 4004Cii I used to own, sounded great, especially with the toasters in that bass.

The JR-344's Jeffrey?
I have a set, and am feeling that they woudl be a MATCH with my Laredo-
I just feel it!

They be the 11111111111111s

[rickfan60]

These threads always turn into an endorsement for every string ever made. So be it. I have used rounds pretty much exclusively since 1977. I tried GHS Boomers back then but found Roto Sound RS66 more to my liking. I used them up to about '99 when I tried my first set of DR Hi-Beams. Since then I have tried several other DR strings. My favorites are still Hi-Beams but I have stainless Lo Riders on my '80 4001 AG and nickel Lo Riders on my '94 V63. My elderly 4001 ('63) has a fresh set of TI Jazz Flats. It sounds great with rounds but the soft TIs are better for that verrrry thin head-neck joint. I use GHS Boomers on my 4003S/8 because there just are not a lot of 8 sets out there.

[atomic_punk]

I always used D'Addario strings on all my Ricks, and on the Fives as well.
I have strong hands from playing a 12 string bass for years, and the stiffness of the D'Addarios works for me. Otherwise I will bend notes like crazy.

[dog]

I agree that the original strings on my 4003 had a nice tone to them, but having used stainless for quite a while, I swapped them for DR high beams soon after receiving my new bass. I really like the ultra bright ring that I get from stainless. Just a week ago I put on a set of TI's. I really love the feel of these low tension flats. However, I miss the bright attack that I get from the DR's. Since I can not decide which type I like better, I am going to need another 4003.